Dental instrument



to lnstruments for OTTO H. LARSEN, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'rro H. LARSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Dental Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dental instruments, and more particularly cleansing and massa ing the teeth and gums, the object of the invention being the provision of an improved construction of this character especially adapted for the purpose.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawi forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an instrument embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view corresponding with Fig. 1

I 5 is arranged a Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken. on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and I ig. 4 is an enlar ed transverse section taken on line 44;of% ig. 1.

The preferred form f of construction I as illustrated in the drawings comprises a hollow handle or stem 5 having a rubber syringe bulb 6 at one end thereof and adapted and arranged to force water or other liquid therethrough. 4 At the other end of the stem hollow head 7 having ordinary tooth brush bristles 8 on one side there-- of. The other side of the head 7 is provided with a plurality of soft flexible perforated projections 9 preferably formed of moderately soft rubber and in' 'open communication with the interior of the head 7 In using the instrument the bristles 8 ma be employed in the usual way as a tooth brush. This treatment of the teeth may be supplemented by a combined massage and cleansing treatment by rubbing the teeth and the gums with the projections 9 and at the same time forcing water or' other liquid through said projections. The combined action of projections 9 and the liquid flowing there- Speciflcation of Letters-Patent.

forth, but

' jections formed Patented Mar. 7, 1922. 1921. Serial No. 457,552.

from is to massage the gums and also penetrate into all cracks and crevices thus thoroughly removing tartar and food particles. This has a tendency to prevent depositing and hardening of tartar in and around the gums or the teeth and thus tends to prevent pyorrhea. The massaging of the gums also has a tendency to increase the blood circulation therethrough and in this way tends to preserve the same in a healthy condition.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of. construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of the construction set desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. In an instrument of the character described comprising a supporting member; a trough-shaped elastic member mounted on said'supporting member and forming therewith a chamber; perforated soft flexible proon said elastic member and communicating with said chamber; a tube mounted on said supporting member; and a.

reservoir mounted on said tube and adapted to supply liquid to said chamber. I In an instrument of the character described comprising a supporting member having a nipple at oneend; a flange surrounding said supporting member; a rubber trough member fitted over said supporting member and engaging said flange, ing with said supporting member a chamber; soft perforated flexible projections formed on said elastic member and communicating with said chamber; a tube fitted on said nipple; and a container fo psupplying liquid to said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO H. LARSEN.

and form- 

